Memorabilia

Brian Lara watching Trinidadian children in a special ceremony for him.

PORT-OF-SPAIN – West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara on Monday
revealed that he went down on his knees last Monday and prayed to God
in his bid to reclaim the world batting record at the Antigua Recreation
Ground (ARG) in St John's.

The batting superstar made the disclosure at a grand
welcoming party at Piarco International Airport on his arrival from Guyana.

Lara reclaimed the world Test batting record by going
past Australian Matthew Hayden’s score of 380.

Lara disclosed that he was not a regular churchgoer, but
recognised that there was a Greater Force in the Universe, to whom praise
must always be given.

“On the third morning I went down on my knees and
asked Him for the strength and guidance to take me through this,”
Lara said.

“I thank Him for all that He has given me. I got
up from my knees and I felt so light. I felt His presence throughout my
innings and at one point I realised that all I had to do was the footwork.
He took care of everything else,” an emotional Lara revealed.

The left-handed genius made an unbeaten 400 runs, and
became the only person in the history of Test cricket to score a quadruple
century.

Lara said West Indies cricket remained his heart and soul,
and was the driving force behind every thing he did.

He told the gathering -- that came from all walks of life
and braved rainy weather -- he held his first bat at the age of three,
and from that moment it had been all he had ever wanted to do.

The 34-year-old Lara also paid glowing tribute to his
deceased parents and the rest of his family, whom he said stood by his
side in the good and bad times.

“I also want to thank my family, and I must say
that I missed my dad. My dad missed both records. And my mom, who went
to prepare him, first of all for releasing the record to Matthew Hayden,
and then telling him do not worry, he is going to take it back soon,”
a tearful Lara stated.

He thanked those who had been a source of inspiration
during his career including West Indies Test selector Joey Carew and his
family and members of the Harvard and Queen’s Park Cricket Club.

“I want to thank you for the support over the years,
and to let you know that I appreciate the accolades that have been bestowed
on me thus far. And I would do anything for the people of T&T, in
whatever capacity,” Lara added.

Lara was bestowed with several awards by the Trinidad
and Tobago government, including ambassador status.(CMC)